The Tic-Tac Tactic

A veteran of numerous notable labels inlcuding V2, Transmat, Shitkatapult, Force Tracks, and Fiji Recordings, Sweden’s Hakan Lidbo is known for devastating minimal house tracks with a distinctive Stockholm sound. For “The Tic-Tac Tactic”, Lidbo moves to Spectral for his second release as The Vanisher, dropping the thickest, deepest acid funk track you’ll hear this side of an old-school Manchester warehouse party.

Riding a deceptively relaxed pace adorned with handclaps and syncopated timbales, “The Tic-Tac Tactic” breaks into an utterly irresistable burbling bass synth line. Vocal samples and ethereal waves of melody gradually appear, making for an altogether enveloping sound, surprisingly rich with immersing detail. Osborne’s “Simulacrum Mix” infuses the track distinctly more upbeat, house sound that takes pieces of the title track and places them into the context of staccato melodies and a mutating bassline. The other B-side, “Toothpaste”, keeps the pace steady with snippets of groans and feedback while other percussive elements and notably dark synthesizers push the track deeper and deeper. This release will surely make its way into the repertoire of any DJ with a taste for the immensely powerful sound of Sweden.

“Sweden’s Hakan Lidbo dons The Vanisher moniker for this fine Spectral three-tracker. On the acidic title cut, Lidbo enriches a dark base of pounding beats, cymbal splashes, and rollicking percussion patterns with whispered vocals and gossamer synth waves that float serenely in the background. By contrast, the fleet “The Tic-Tac Tactic (Osborne’s Simulacrum Mix)” pursues a sunnier, trance-like vibe where vaporous smears rub elbows with rubbery bass lines and swinging microhouse clatter. “Toothpaste”, on the other hand, oozes portent and mystery. Here ghostly voice snippets and spectral glimmers flutter overtop subtly percolating techno rhythms until its flute-like whistles vaporize and the track itself vanishes. In spite of its brevity, The Tic-Tac Tactic satisfies with its compelling array of contrasts.” -Textura